So many emotions swept over me while viewing this story and reading the text. Dread, happiness, sadness, etc… I think my overwhelming show of emotion while viewing this has something to do with my dad recently overcoming throat cancer. (He was diagnosed at Stage 4 in September 2010… He was given a 20 percent chance. The cancer was a result of Agent Orange exposure during Vietnam).

I think it also has to do with the declining health of my grandparents, especially my grandfather in the recent years… months… weeks. I’ll spare you the emotions, but it’s a constant battle with myself accepting that I cannot be in Sheridan being able to help my family.

So what with the emotions? So this: As storytellers, what are we doing when we decide to tell a story? Why are we telling the story? Are we bringing awareness to something? Are we helping someone? Are we trying to connect with people? What are we doing?

I believe the answers are different for each person and for each story. However, these are questions we should ask ourselves. Storytelling doesn’t have to be glamorous with lots of special effects or glitzy camera shots. Sometimes less is more.

I didn’t log on to my computer tonight looking for a story that would stick with me for the rest of my life… But I found one.